April 2022
Perhaps one of my darkest months on record?
Greys and Browns seemed to be the colours of the day and to the heart.
Suddenly things have become all too real ...
Thankfully there were some sunny spots to hold on to...
Sunny yellow butter lambs created around the table with friends.Thanks Heather and Mary Lou for such a fun day together.
Favourite Paska baked along with Lovella's online tutorial.This brought a smile to my face and oh how the aroma filled my kitchen!
I made far too much and later that week decided to make some deliveries.
So glad I did that - there is still one loaf in my freezer.
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| Icing and sprinkles added later |
Awwww - the Lenten Roses bloomed, just as they should and
giving me the promise of Easter and of Spring to come ...
Forever thankful to the former owners of this house for this "gift" they left behind!
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| Ready to go to the Leis Family Easter Gathering |
Sourdough bake for Easter dinner - one of my pleasures and
perhaps best distractions?
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| A cute cheesy carrot "cheese ball" made by my SIL Angela |
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| He is Risen! |
Easter Sunday Dinner was postponed due to Covid.However, we were able to celebrate it along with a special birthday, the following Sunday.
The always delicious Bone-in-Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Asparagus Salad, Corn and Carrotsmade it to the belated Easter table.
Bone-In Ham - my favourite recipe:
Marie (my sister) makes this and has it marked as one of her “family favourites”. She uses a dry mix to rub on the roast (Marie trims the skin but leaves the fat layer on and uses this rub for a 5 lb. roast):
1 Tbsp. Flour, 2 tsp. salt, pepper, ½ tsp. dry mustard, ¼ Cup Brown Sugar, ½ tsp. thyme, Paprika and Garlic Powder.
At this stage you can score the fat into diamond shapes and stud with whole cloves.
Put it in the roast pan, fat side up, add a sliced onion, pineapple rings (optional), apple juice or ginger-ale. When using the juice she roasts it with a cover on for a really tender result. Sometimes she roasts it without the juice and without a cover, starting the roast at 400F for about 15 minutes and then reducing heat to 325F for 4 hours. You need approx. ½ - ¾ lbs. per person for a bone in ham or ¼ - ½ lbs. per person for a boneless roast. Internal temp. should be 160F when ready for serving.
We were thankful to be able to all be together and to extend the table!
On the very same day ... our sweet and sensitive boy turned 4.
FOUR - I still can't believe it!
This is the same little boy who whispered in my ear this past Sunday,
as I held him during the final hymn at church,
"I wish Popa could come back" ....
The sun did not shine on April 27th, the day Jim celebrated his first birthday in heaven. Thank you to so many who reached out to me during this gloomy, cold, and dreary long day ...
I miss him so much! I know in my heart and soul that he is safely home with our risen Lord!
Some of "his shirts therapy" is still a work in progress. Only 80 more flying geese units to make for the border ... eek!
Till next time .... stop and smell Spring! Just Breathe ...
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Your April is my May. I am asking The Lord how to approach this month of three anniversaries...there has to be a better way. What a sweet little grand wishing his grandfather could return. One day, he will!
ReplyDeleteYour bread baking is wonderful. No one bakes more beautiful loaves. Though I no longer bake Paska, the memory of it is sweet.
Happy quilting. I can tell that it will be a masterpiece. 🧵
Oh dear Rosella. I can't imagine the loneliness after so many years as one. Your sweet 4 year old and that whisper in your ear...oh my. Happy Birthday to him. He's one year almost to the day ahead of our JJ. JJ gives me the best hugs. Praying for your continued journey in grief. Praying, too, that the sun will shine brightly and help brighten your days and the Holy Spirit will continue with his comfort in your inner being.
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous Easter feast. I'm sure there was comfort in making favorite holiday recipes and being surrounded by family. But it's impossible to fill the void... Take good care of yourself, my friend. xo
ReplyDeleteThat is just the sweetest...your grandson whispering his wish that Popa would come back. We had a cold and dark April over here as well, but I won't even compare it to yours. A life's partner no longer there is a whole other kind of dark! Your Paska and bread look amazing...and your butter lambs are the sweetest. Sorry that Covid got in the way of your 'gathering' over Easter...but the feast a week later sounds fantastic. Take care, Rosella!
ReplyDeleteDear Rosella, I am sorry that there are such dark days for you right now. I think that those "firsts" are difficult (first Easter, first birthday, first fill-in-the-blank without your loved one) . . . but then ordinary days are difficult too. Grief is unpredictable and unrelenting. The comfort is that our loving Lord is walking through it all with you, even when it feels as if He is far away from your pain. There are people in my life who are also going through dark days. I will pray for you when I pray for them.
ReplyDeleteEven in your grief, you are finding lovely ways to spend your time, whether it is celebrating His glorious Resurrection, celebrating your birthday boy, or making darling little butter lambs. One day at a time . . .
Dear Rosella, there is so much I want to coment on here! What a month for you! I am so thankful that I can peek into your life and see a small reality of your life. Your four-year-old's sentiment, just breaks your heart! You just want him to keep remembering ... so a little visit would be good, wouldn't it? I love his cake. And your butter lambs. I need to try that again next year. I will need the instructions again. The carrot cheeseball is also fun!!
ReplyDeleteI am comforted to know that you have family and friends around you and, most of all, for the hope our heavenly Father keeps reminding us of.